FREEPORT, Grand Bahama -- The Bahamas National Trust will be celebrating Earth Day on Saturday April 28th with activities at the Rand Nature Centre from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The activities will begin with a Nature Walk through the Pine Forest and will feature native plants traditionally used in Bahamian Culture. Admission is FREE and food and drinks will be on sale.

Earth Day is observed on the 22nd of April of each year as a day when people around the world recognize the importance of protecting the earth and the environment. It was founded by Gaylord Nelson in 1970 and now over 140 countries around the world participate in “Earth Day” activities to demonstrate the importance of protecting the earth. The theme for this year is “Mobilize the Earth” and as always is meant to motivate people to do their own small part to conserve and protect the environment.

Activities will include demonstrations of Paper Making and Wood Carving by members of the Grand Bahama Artist Association. The Glory Harris Banks Art Gallery will feature an exhibit by the Grand Bahama Artist’s Association promoting this year’s international theme. The exhibit will be on display in the Glory Harris Banks Art gallery until April 30th.

This Earth Day, the Rand Nature Centre will focus on presenting ideas in which individuals can get involved by making small changes in their lives that can go a long way towards protecting the environment. Activity stations featuring games and conservation ideas will be displayed as well as a “Recycling Information Station”.

This will feature information about local companies involved in recycling various materials; Paint Fair, The Ink Station and Shred Secure will all be participating. Shred Secure offers a paper shredding service and will shred used documents free of charge on that day. The Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee will feature a Puppet Show on the importance of keeping our environment clean and litter free.

Nakira Wilchcombe, Chairman of the committee shared that, “The Keep Grand Bahama Clean Committee wishes to mobilize Grand Bahama by focusing our efforts on the commitment of cleanliness with our future leaders. In this effort the KGBC Committee has extended an invitation to service groups, corporate businesses and concerned citizens to act in one accord to keep Grand Bahama clean during the week of April 20-27th, 2012. The level of beautification carried out by each group will include, but will not be limited to, litter clean up, tree planting, painting and other activities.”

Photo: The Bahamas National Trust will be celebrating Earth Day on Saturday April 28th with activities at the Rand Nature Centre from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. The activities will begin with a Nature Walk through the Pine Forest and will feature native plants traditionally used in Bahamian Culture. Admission is free and food and drinks will be on sale.